RoanMtnMan wrote:I would say that safety isn't as bad down there as many people seem to think. To and from Puebla with a local and reputable taxi service would be fine I think. On our big trip we went a little on the cowboy side and things did get dicey a few times, we definitely could have used more caution. All in all it was a great adventure though, and that is kind of the point for me anyway. See below video. There is also an article about our trip in the latest issue of The Ski Journal.

Nice video Caleb, looks like you guys had a good time down there. Haha, running from baditos through marijuana fields below Piedra Grande...sounds like fun. I went to Puerta Vallarta/Sayulita after my trip down there as well. That is the way to do it.

"May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds." Edward Abbey...

We are going down there late January/early Feb 2013 for Izta and Orizaba. I have been to the Yucatan several times over the last couple years and everything over there seems pretty normal. All other reports, as seen in this thread too, indicate that common sense is all you need to stay safe (besides the border towns). We are going to use a hired driver, just for the convenience, not so much the safety...however.

Has anyone driven around the northern part of the country, and if so, what are your experiences? I'm trying to convince my wife that doing a road trip down to Chihuahua would be fun and not dangerous like she thinks it could be. I told her as long as we don't stay in the border towns that we'll be fine, but she thinks otherwise. Thoughts?

Life is too short to pay full retail for outdoor gear!

"God has cared for these trees, saved them from draught, disease, avalanches, and a thousand straining, leveling tempasts and floods; but he cannot save them from fools; only Uncle Sam can do that."--John Muir

CorduroyCalves wrote:Has anyone driven around the northern part of the country, and if so, what are your experiences?

Driving: Police car with two officers appears behind. Follows. In the mirror I can see them talking, as if determining what next to do. Flashing lights. Pull over. Officer: “Very serious. You have Very Serious offense. Very Serious!” Some back and forth. Refuse to play their game, uncomfortably. Then, “You come with us to station. Follow us.” Imagination: skinny white boy in Mexican jail. “Alright, alright…”, pulling out my money clip. Head policeman hands to me a sheet of paper with a list: Pick your Offense, Pick your Fine. I pick my offense. Give 200 Pesos. Am on my way. [of course I now realize the last thing that they want or that will happen is for them to take me back to the jailhouse]. When again this happens to me far away from the first instance, I was quite relaxed about it and just immediately gave them money. A Costa Rican/American friend, Spanish is a first language, spends months each year in Mexico, and, looking gringo enough, about every time he drives through a certain town gets pulled over, and having argued and been delayed enough in past, now has his 200 at the ready and just gives it to them.

Military checkpoint: Armored vehicles, Heavily armed - M16’s - Mexican Army members around car, in car, poking around, sniffer dogs. One asks, “You have an inverter? One you like to sell?” I do have an inverter but if I tell him I don’t have one and he finds it or that I do and do not want to sell it, then what? An hour of search and delay and my manhandled gear in the dirt? or some ganja planted in my car? “Yes, I have an inverter that I will sell to you for 100 Pesos.”

They are all kind of to quite nice about it, actually, and while it is/seems harmless enough, I am not comfortable dealing with the Mexican Police and Military periodically and do kind of fear a rogue cop who goes too far. And then there are the regular thieves looking for an opportunity to break into your car. I spent several weeks there during that trip and have not been back.

Last edited by robby40 on Tue Dec 04, 2012 3:59 pm, edited 1 time in total.

CorduroyCalves wrote:Has anyone driven around the northern part of the country, and if so, what are your experiences? I'm trying to convince my wife that doing a road trip down to Chihuahua would be fun and not dangerous like she thinks it could be. I told her as long as we don't stay in the border towns that we'll be fine, but she thinks otherwise. Thoughts?

Just got back yesterday from there. This was my fifth short trip to the volcanoes in the last 13 months. I fly into MEX and rent a car. Except for getting confused in the area around the airport, I've had no problems at all. I've never felt unsafe.

I was in the Altzomoni hut on Izta 4 days ago. It's still in good shape though all rooms smell a bit of smoke and I'm sure a larger group would be a challenge for the toilets... The Grupo de los Cien Albergue is also in good shape. Didn't make it over to the Ayoloco refugio.

Great area, great people.

I've never been farther north than Teotihuacan so have no experience at all of the north or the border areas.